Any advice on son's panic attacks?

Mom4Life · 11-20-2008, 12:45 PM

My 19-year-old son has been having panic attacks for a little over a year. These seem to be increasing in frequency; in particular, when he is driving. He is seeing a therapist (weekly) for cognitive therapy, but because he was becoming so frustrated with "feeling lousy," he began taking an anti-anxiety medication about three days ago.

To give you a bit of background: DS is an accomplished musician and athlete. IQ in the 150s. Decent grades but rarely worked hard in school (could do very little work and still get Bs in most classes in a reasonably competitive public high school). No emotional or psychological problems apparent -- had friends, was active, etc. Late in his senior year, two friends died in a car accident. Although we encouraged him to talk about this with someone other than friends, he said he was "okay" at that time. The following fall he went about 850 miles from home to a large public university (which was always his plan; he wanted a new experience at a large school). There he befriended a fellow freshman who died in October 2007 from a fall from his dorm window. Again, DS did not immediately seek counseling despite our recommendations. He seemed to be "doing okay," but in reality, during the spring semester he missed a lot of classes due to depression.

At this point he is home with us attending a local college (beyond the tragic event described, the university he attended was not a "good fit" for a number of reasons).

I am writing to see if there is anyone out there who may have any advice for my husband and me? I would especially like to hear "success stories" of those who have conquered depression and/or anxiety, as this burden is taking its toll on the whole family.

Thanks in advance for any support you can provide.

pugmadkate · 11-20-2008, 01:08 PM

I am on my way out the door but I just wanted to check in quickly. I deal with both panic attacks and depression as well. With your son, this may be a time sensitive issue that will pass out of his life or it may have to manage it for the rest of his life.

What I want to tell you is that you are in the darkest part and, yes, there are much better days coming for your son and your family. The work is hard, for everyone, but you will get there if you're willing to do it and I can see that you are.

I'll come back later, I just wanted to leave a positive note because I know how lonely and isolated this can be for all involved. I commend you for working with your son to deal with this. It's not easy.

DocT · 11-20-2008, 01:13 PM

exercise is the best medicine

swimcatsmom · 11-20-2008, 01:24 PM

Has he been seeing the therapist for a while? My daughter lost her boyfriend in an accident and also was resistant to counseling at first. After 6 tortuous months (not sleeping, horrendous nightmares about the accident, feelings of guilt that she was not able to save him) she was in such a state that she finally agreed to go and see a child psychiatrist (she was 16 at the time) that specialized in grief therapy. It did help her but it took a while. I just can't imagine how a 2nd tragedy would have affected her.

Look after yourself too. It is incredibly tough watching your child suffer and feeling so helpless.

researchmaven · 11-20-2008, 02:05 PM

Panic attacks are usually hereditary. It doesn't evidence itself until a traumatic event "trips the switch." Panic attacks don't necessarily mean one is depressed. It's a very specific form of anxiety. There are clinics that address panic attacks. I know there is one running out of a hospital in Westchester, New York. The treatment requires gradual exposure and desensitization to the situation that brings out the panic attack. It is supposedly very treatable with a fairly short-term program

ChiSquare · 11-20-2008, 02:09 PM

Mom, if your son consumes caffeinated beverages, have him give them up for a while. Caffeine can be a factor in panic attacks.

sax · 11-20-2008, 02:14 PM

Please have your son get a full and thorough physical exam including seeing a good endocrinologist. You must rule out any and all physical problems first. Your focus may be diverted by all the unfortuate circumstances that have surrounded him the last year which may or may not end up being a root cause of his panic attacks. I am speaking from experience w/ one of my kids.

DocT · 11-20-2008, 03:04 PM

I'm assuming that by panic attacks you mean more than he just feels lousy but rather he thinks he is dying. By the way panic attacks can occur in any situation including waking up in a panic attack. There doesn't have to be a situation. Some attacks occur for no specific reason.

Shrinkrap · 11-20-2008, 04:24 PM

The "anxiety" med reccommended for real panic disorder is geberally an SSRI

researchmaven · 11-20-2008, 06:24 PM

Yes. I'm surprised he was put on an anti-anxiety medication. Usually it is an SSRI that is prescribed together with the therapy I mentioned above. In your son's case the clinic would help him work through his panic attacks related to driving. He would be taken out on drives with a counselor.

palmalk · 11-20-2008, 06:56 PM

Maybe he was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (based on his description to the therapist of his "panic attacks"). There was a great thread in this forum (??) about GAD a while back. I assume you are not "privy" to whatever diagnoses the therapist makes based on the sessions beyond what your son may choose to tell you (and he seems to want to characterize these episodes as "panic attacks" - at least to you).

Hmmmm..... Maybe there should be a separate forum for Mental Health Issues - would make things easier to find again.

jasoninpines · 11-20-2008, 07:10 PM

I have suffered personally from a mix of panic attacks, chronic anxiety, and depression for the past 2 1/2 years now. I was fine before that, but I was in my "drug experimental" phase and had one bad trip, and I guess it "flipped the switch"

Since then my life has been an internal hell, and at the beginning of it all, I moved to Gainesville to escape my problems. Well, as it turned out my anxiety and panic attacks rose to an all time high, and I was forced to move back. I probably have a different type of anxiety though, I truly convinced myself that I was dying due to daily headaches/body pains/lack of energy.

I turned into a hypochondriac, and was pretty much afraid to do anything. I went out and went to school, but if I did anything physical or out of the ordinary, even jumping once in the air, I would feel my heartbeat for a few minutes.

I had a few panic attacks which made me run out of class, as my chest was pounding so hard, that I drove myself to the emergency room, in which my heart was beating at 155bpm.

After my second year or so, I started to realize that enough is enough(in theory, didn't really happen). I stopped pretty much having "panic attacks" after going to cardiologists and visiting many many many doctors. I started to realize that I am truly depressed, despite very very short moments of happiness. I accomplish many things that would normally make me happy, but it is now looked upon as more of a futile task.

I'm still in this situation, but am going to be going on Paxil or some other SSRI/SNRI next week(I took it for 3 days in the past, but had a nosebleed and convinced myself that it was a brain hemorrhage).

Realisically, I do think taking this will solve a lot of my problems. I am a very smart student, and get As with no effort, but my lack of energy and focus due to all of my anxiety/depression problems make things very hard/unenjoyable for me. I know this post was sort of an endless spur of my own problems, but it's very hard to characterize what I went through and what I feel, as thought interpretation and memory can be a challenge when anxiety is on your mind 24/7.

Any specific questions or anything about your son I'm glad to help. I consider myself more qualified than most without any formal psych education, as in the past 2 years I must have done more research about my own condition then most in the actual major, lol.

DocT · 11-20-2008, 07:54 PM

"Any specific questions or anything about your son I'm glad to help. I consider myself more qualified than most without any formal psych education, as in the past 2 years I must have done more research about my own condition then most in the actual major, lol."

Join the club!

anothermom2 · 11-20-2008, 08:03 PM

Seek counseling. Overcoming the death of a close friend is not an easy thing and it can take a long time to come to terms with something like this. The shock of an accidental death is an additional factor for your son.

3Trees · 11-20-2008, 08:52 PM

M4L, I'm so sorry to hear your son is going through such a tough time. And I imagine the rest of your family is suffering, too, as you try to help him regain his equilibrium. FWIW, it sounds like he (and you) has made some good choices. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in significantly reducing the symptoms of PTSD and other trauma-related anxiety disorders, especially when coupled with medication. The meds will take a few weeks to become effective, as I'm sure you know, and a structured course of CBT can last anywhere from 12-16 weeks. Hang in there, keep asking open-ended questions to encourage him to talk about what's going on, and do consider whether it would be helpful for you (and perhaps your husband) to talk to someone supportive yourselves.